Congressional Newsletters

RAND Congressional newsletters and alerts highlight our research on the most relevant issues in the public policy debate. See the most recent issues below.

Opioids
The Future of Fentanyl: Are Existing Drug Policy Tools Enough?
Sep 4, 2019
The U.S. overdose crisis has worsened dramatically with the arrival of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. A new RAND report found that deaths involving synthetic opioids increased from roughly 3,000 in 2013 to more than 30,000 in 2018.
Air Defense
How Can Distributed Operations Reduce Air Base Vulnerability?
Aug 30, 2019
In an era of great power competition, the United States can no longer assume that air bases will be sanctuaries. An enemy could disrupt air operations with attacks on a few high-payoff targets at main operating bases or the joint air operations center.
Global Health
In Case You Missed It: Implications of U.S.-China Collaborations on Global Health Issues
Aug 27, 2019
As the world's two largest economies, the United States and China face increasingly similar public health challenges. RAND's Jennifer Bouey outlines some potential initiatives that should be considered for future U.S.-China collaborations.
Homeland Security
CATCH UP QUICK: Human Smuggling, Terrorism, Coast Guard in the Arctic, and more
Aug 19, 2019
RAND experts have testified and answered questions for staff on a variety of homeland security topics this year, including terrorism prevention, fentanyl flows into the United States, and Coast Guard workforce issues.
The Surge of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids
Aug 14, 2019
How is the illicit flow of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids impacting communities across the United States? A recent RAND report examined mortality and seizure data at the state level across several drug classes to better understand the evolution and concentration of overdose fatalities in the United States.
United States
Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 13, 2019
The summer recess provides an opportunity to get ahead of issues that will resurface in the fall. To that end, RAND has compiled recent research on topics likely to top the congressional agenda come September.
Postsecondary Education
Higher Education Act Reauthorization: Insights from RAND
Aug 5, 2019
In light of Congress' efforts to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, RAND has collected commentaries from its experts that address several aspects of the nation's main federal law governing postsecondary education.
Opioids
In Case You Missed It: Illicit Supply of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids
Aug 1, 2019
RAND's Bryce Pardo discusses how illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids, often from China, are changing the U.S. drug policy landscape. He outlines four potential policy responses to combat the synthetic opioid crisis.
Autonomous Vehicles
When Autonomous Vehicles are Hacked, Who is Liable?
Jul 31, 2019
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are hitting roads around the nation for pilot testing, and autonomous taxi fleets are expected within a few years. While there may be benefits to widespread use, policymakers will need to consider potential drawbacks as well.
Information Operations
How Can the U.S. Respond to Gray Zone Threats?
Jul 30, 2019
In an era of strategic competition, adversaries are engaging in activities below the threshold of war--an area commonly called the “gray zone.” How can the United States mitigate these threats and gain strategic advantage?
Principals
In Case You Missed It: Principal Pipelines: A Feasible, Affordable, and Effective Way to Improve Schools
Jul 1, 2019
In this congressional briefing, Susan Gates discusses the feasibility, effectiveness, and affordability of principal pipelines
International Diplomacy
Competing with Russia and China in the Middle East
Jun 28, 2019
Russia and China have significantly increased their engagement in the Middle East in recent years. In this new era of strategic competition, what could the United States do to compete successfully?